Page 119 of Crazy Love

Halloween is finally here. The day of reckoning. The day that will go down in history as the most humiliating but also possibly the most adorable of my life.

It was a rookie mistake, letting Winnie pick our costumes. We thought we were being good parents, letting her be creative and giving her the power to make a big decision. But then she said the words. The dreaded words.

“We’ll be Elsa!”

“You mean you’ll be Elsa?” Sam said hopefully.

“No, all of us.FourElsas,” she said emphatically.

Sam and I tried everything to change her mind.

How about you’re Elsa, Addy’s Anna, I’m the Snowman, and Sam’s the prince? Or Sam could be the Snowman…

What about pirates or superheroes? Wouldn’t you love to be a superhero, Winnie?

Nope, she was set. Addy backed her up, reminding us that we did tell her she could pick. And when I saw how excited she was, how her eyes lit up at the thought of all of us dressed as her favorite character, I knew I was sunk. Sam, to his credit, decided to be the Snowman. He admitted to me that he’d feel dumber dressed like the prince, and the Snowman would feel a little dumb, but at least it’d make Winnie laugh.

That kid, man, he’s the best. And he’s like the rest of us, he just can’t resist Winnie.

So here we are.

I smooth down the sparkling blue dress that barely fits over my shoulders and resist the urge to adjust the platinum blonde wig that’s slipping dangerously down my forehead. Sam looks hilarious with his snowman belly bobbing when he walks, and he was right—it does make Winnie laugh.

Winnie and Addy lookperfect. Like legit, they’ve walked straight out of the movie. Winnie’s version makes her look angelic, and Addy’s version is demure and yet she’s so fucking hot, I may have to leave her in this get-up as I go down on her tonight.

We take the kids trick-or-treating for a little while, stopping by my parents’ cottage first, then going to Rex and Danielle’s. We hit a few more houses along the way before going to Henley and Tru’s house for the Halloween party. When we arrive, I take one last deep breath before Henley opens the door. He seesWinnie first and tells her how pretty she is, and then he sees Addy and adds how lovely she is too.

The moment the guys see me and Sam, it’s over. Scratch that—when they seeme, it’s over. Sam is a charming Snowman. I am a hideous Elsa.

Henley chokes out a laugh so hard he actually stumbles backward. Rhodes doubles over and braces himself against the wall, gasping for breath. Bowie takes one look at me and mutters, “That’s your color.” Weston’s mouth twitches and then he explodes into an outrageousguffaw.

I don’t think I’ve ever used that word before, but there’s a time and place.

“Hey, assholes,” I say in a prissy Elsa voice, which of course, sends them into another fit.

“Hold on,” Rhodes manages, lifting his phone. “I’ve gotta get a picture of this.”

“Absolutely not,” I say, but Sam is already posing next to me.

If he can do it, so can I.

We pose and then Elle walks up, her eyes lit with amusement. “You’re my heroes,” she tells me and Sam. “And you, beautiful ladies,” she tells Winnie and Addy, “are the prettiest Elsas I’ve ever seen.”

“You’re a saint,” Poppy adds, winking at me.

Sadie laughs. “You know this is going to be on the group chat forever.”

“And all of our Christmas cards,” Tru adds, grinning.

“Have you seen yourselves?” I ask, laughing now myself. “You’re all actually looking pretty top-tier.”

Henley and Tru have gone all in on theToy Storytheme. Henley looks hilarious in his Woody costume, and baby Avery is the cutest potato head I’ve ever seen. Cassidy is rocking the Buzz Lightyear suit, which Sam finds very impressive. Audrey isa gorgeous Bo Peep, and Gracie tries to figure out how to walk while dressed as the slinky dog.

Rhodes is an Oompa Loompa and it’s too good. And Levi is slaying as Willy Wonka. Elle goes into full method acting as Violet Beauregarde when she sees us admiring her costume and smacks her gum.

“So good.” I try to pull the dress up my shoulder, but it’s no use.

I turn to look at Bowie and Poppy and all of them, Becca and Jonas included, are the cutest Dalmatians ever. Jonas howls like a puppy, making everyone laugh.

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